Ian Smallman has been named as the third former colleague to join Principle Estate Management in Birmingham. He joins Principle founder Brett Williams and fellow director Joe Jobson who joined in the summer, and has been appointed as a board level director at the managing agent which opened for business in Spring 2018.

He will focus on the operations side for Principle’s growing client list of residential and mixed use property investors.

All three directors were formerly in the residential estate management division of CPBigwood.

Mr Smallman has specialised in private sector residential service charge management, ground rent collection and portfolio management nationally for nearly 30 years. Brett Williams said: “Ian is a senior figure in the property management industry and is well known and respected in the sector. I recruited him previously to head our property management operations and I am delighted to be able to do so again. Ian has a wealth of experience and will be a major asset to the business. He strengthens our team and will be integral to our future progress.”

His appointment comes as Principle approaches 1,000 units under management in just six months since the firm opened for business.

Mr Williams said: “With the number of instructions already secured in less than six months, we are delighted with the positive feedback we are receiving and our growing pipeline of instructions from clients who want a managing agent they can trust and rely on. Our portfolio now stretches from Blackpool through Bristol to Portsmouth, across to Crawley to Basildon, and up to Peterborough and Manchester. We are also acting for a growing number of properties in London.”

Ian Smallman said: “This is a new challenge in a sector I know very well. It is important for me to be working within an organisation where the core values of integrity, transparency, professionalism, honesty and responsiveness are not just words on a strapline but embraced by all who work with the organisation. I have worked with Brett and Joe previously and I am looking forward to playing my part in driving the business forward.”

Ian Smallman is actively involved in the Institute of Residential Property Managers and sits on the Leasehold Working Group.